Will Wright, the creator behind the global smash hit franchise, has joined Fox Broadcasting, not specifically to create new games, but to explore new avenues. "It could be a sitcom or something completely different," affirmed Mike Darnell, Fox executive VP alternative programming and specials. "This deal's not about taking a game and turning it into a TV show; it's about creating new entertainment franchises."

In recent months Wright has moved away from game design and has instead been working on traditional entertainment with The Simpsons writer Lew Morton, creating several episodes of M.Y. Robot.

Reuters are reporting that itself may also be heading to the small-screen as part of a separate deal, though a recent agreement pertaining to this with Columbia Tristar has apparently fallen through.

By Luke Guttridge